My Story – Carol Newberry

I had worked at Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island for 11 years. It was a great place to work, and I thought that I would never again experience the feeling of making a difference in people’s lives. Following a short absence, I had the opportunity to return.

Just prior to coming back to work at the agency, I was going through a very difficult time. My husband had unexpectedly passed away, and my life was turned upside down. Goodwill welcomed me back with open arms, and provided me with a safe environment and much-needed stability.  Being of service to others gave me a sense of accomplishment and belonging, and the future grew brighter for me and my daughter.

My current position is vocational evaluator/case manager.  I am responsible for helping clients learn about their vocational skills, abilities, interests and aptitudes, and how they can translate into potential occupational areas.  In addition, I help individuals identify how they learn best, their emotional and physical tolerance for a work day, and how skills and interests are transferable to different jobs.

As a case manager, I work closely with individuals to guide them through the process of re-entering the workforce, providing support and encouragement along the way.

Goodwill provides a great deal of professional training to keep employees informed of available services, updates to professional standards and other related issues.  We also were able to obtain certification for PowerPath testing, which has really helped many of our clients better understand some learning challenges.

I firmly believe that each and every one of us understands Goodwill’s mission, and that we live it each and every day.